Revolving Diet

Morning Motivation...

Day 126 ~ 5/25/12

Down another pound today!!  Just in time for the loooooong holiday weekend!

So sorry for the late post....so many issues tonight.  I decided to make a Quinoa Burger/Cakes recipe and double it, turns out I now have Quinoa out my ears!!!

What started out as doubling the recipe ended up tripling the recipe with another (4) extra cups of cook Quinoa.  This is NOT the thing to do after you work all day, go to grocery store and then put this together...BUT THEY WERE GOOD!!

Quinoa.  I have used Quinoa in the past,  if only because it was an option on a previous diet.  I never really did any research on it just thinking it was a grain.  This “Eat Yourself Slim” diet says you can have Quinoa but not Couscous.  I thought it odd and felt a little more research was needed.

 The Difference:

 Quinoa – A grain-like crop that produce edible seeds. Closely related to beets, spinach, kale  and tumbleweeds. (Yes, tumbleweeds, those tumbling balls of weeds seen in old westerns or in deserts.)   So Quinoa is more like a vegetable than a grain.  It’s Gluten Free, high in amino acids, iron and B12.  Over the past several years Quinoa is becoming more and more popular with weight loss programs as it’s approximately 7 grams of protein per serving and 6 grams of fiber per serving  enable it to be a very satisfying meal.    One serving (about a ½ cup dry) of Quinoa is about 175 calories. Quinoa is a (35) low glycemic index, it means that quinoa is safe for diabetics and it won’t spike blood sugar, which fits just fine within the “Eat Yourself Slim” program.  It’s easy to make (cooks just like rice) and it’s versatile, from s side dishes right through to dessert!!

 Couscous – Although, Couscous is made from semolina/processed wheat (a grain) and rolled in flour to form little pellets, it is considered one of the healthiest grain products in comparison to pasta it has twice the amount of B6, folate, riboflavin and niacin.  It contains the same amount of protein as pasta. Couscous like rice is not a low GI index food, it ranges about 61-69. 

 With all that being said.  I am having Cheesy Quinoa Cakes for dinner. (I can’t have the Aioli, due to the mayo, but I included it with the recipe – just in case you wanted to try.) Recipe Courtesy of Trader’s Joe’s.

 Cheesy Quinoa Cakes with Garlic Lemon Aioli  Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Cups Cooked Quinoa

2/3 Cup Grated Fontina Cheese

3 tablespoon all purpose flour

2 Thinly sliced Green Onions

1 lightly beaten Egg

1 teaspoon black pepper

2-1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Salt to taste

 Garlic Aioli:

½ cup light mayo

1 head roasted garlic

1 juiced and zested lemon

¼ teaspoon cayenne  pepper

Salt & Pepper to taste

 For cakes, put all ingredients, except oil in a bowl and mix until well combined. Season with salt & pepper, let sit 5 minutes.  Form into 10 to 12 patties.  Pour olive oil in pan and bring to a medium heat, working in batches place cakes in pan and cook for about 5 minutes each side (or until golden brown), repeat until all cakes are cooked.

 For aioli, squeeze garlic into food processor and all other ingredients, taste and add salt & pepper if you need.  Blend until smooth.  Put into small bowl and serve with warm cakes.

Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel, 1 teaspoon sugar free orange marmalade, fat free blood orange chobani yogurt (Carb Rich breakfast)

Lunch: 1 can  Progresso veggie soup, 1 apple

Dinner: 3 Quinoa Cakes and two bottles of water 

 

Looks DELICIOUS...YES.THEY.ARE!!! 

Since I did not make the Mayo/Garlic/Lemon Sauce (no mayo allowed on this diet) , I just sprinkled a little Cayenne Pepper, Garlic Powder and a squirt of lemon juice - it made them even tastier!!  I could only imagine what the sauce would bring to them!

Have a GREAT night and a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Morning Motivation...

STRENGTH SHOWS

IN NOT ONLY THE ABILITY TO PERSIST

BUT IN THE ABILITY TO START OVER

* * * * * * * *

DO NOT LET A SLIP STOP YOU

YOU ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT

JUST START OVER AND DO BETTER

THE ONLY PERSON YOU DISAPPOINT IS YOURSELF, YOU ARE NOT IN A RACE

DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT

Day 125 ~ 5/24/12

Another 1/2 pound down!!  Moving in the right direction....I have to make this quick, I am late and  have to run hubby up to airport.

Meals Today:

Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel, 1 teaspoon sugar free orange marmalade, fat free blood orange chobani yogurt (Carb Rich breakfast) - Same as yesterday (quick & easy!!)

Lunch:  3 HB eggs, 2 slices mozzerella cheese, tomato slices, 2 apples

Dinner:  Shrimp Scampi, cauliflower & broccoli, fat free cottage cheese

 

I hope your day was TERRIFIC and you are moving into that "READY for SUMMER" mindset!!!

Morning Motivation...

Day 124 ~ 5/23/12

Another happy 1/2 pound loss on the scale this morning.  No work out though,  as the thought of getting out of bed early this moring was out of the question.  The gloomy skies had me taking advantage of an extra hours sleep this morning and the rushing around like a nut to get out of the house on time.  But it really didn't matter as I hit traffic on the way in.

I started thinking that this morning  my life resembled the Truman Show (the movie with Jim Carey) where as soon as I walked out my door everyone within a 10 mile radius got the message to cause a traffic jam and delay my arrival at work. There were no cars on my road as I pulled out (which was weird, as my road is a cut through off a major roadway) but as soon as I got to the end of my road it was  like a coordinated car parade and I ened up being the caboose in the whole mess. I was only (ONLY) 20 minutes late this morning   :0( .

You know I like Trader Joes and I came across (2) wonderful new items, Asparagus, not new but the packaging made it a quick and easy vegetable for dinner tonight,  Gourmet Microwavable Asparagus...Microwave right in the bag...Quick and AWESOME!!! :

And not on the diet, but I ate (2) cups @ 160 calories prior to dinner - POPCORN -...NO I WAS NOT WAITING FOR THE Microwave Asparagus....I was waiting for the roasted chicken to finish in the oven....New item (or new to me) it was pretty good, my regular favorite is the TJ's Kettlecorn Popcorn, but this is like old timey Movie Theater Popcorn, not like the stuff you get now that feels like you have a big grease ball sitting in your stomach after you eat it:

Meals Today:

Breakfast: Whole wheat bagel, 1 teaspoon sugar free orange marmalade, fat free blood orange chobani yogurt (Carb Rich breakfast)

Lunch:  Tuna over a bed of lettuce with tomatoes, chickpeas, broccoli and chopped HB egg and  light sprinke oil/vinegar - this was a local deli special lunch and actually falls under Very Low GI Carb Meal.

Dinner:  Gourmet Microwaved Asparagus, oven roasted chicken breast (no skin), fat free cottage Cheese

Good food day (except for popcorn, but I am not going to worry about 160 calories)...I hope your day went well!!

 Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we look for it!

Morning Motivation...

Day 123 ~ 5/22/12

A happy sight standing on the scale this morning and seeing a pound gone.

I do not “feel” any different. But what can I expect – it’s a pound, not 10 pounds. I have to say I did pretty good yesterday, I ate enough at each meal to offset in-between munching.

No exercise though. The weather yesterday and pretty much this week is dismal. It's warm but basically chance of rain most days. I am going to clear off the treadclimber tonight (not 100% sure it's still there, will find out once I move a few things...ha,ha,ha)...so I can hop on first thing tomorrow morning. I need to get back on that portion of this weight loss/firm up/healthy journey.

Unfortunately one can not be done without the other.

Today's Meals

Breakfast: 1 cup 2% milk, 3 slices bacon, 2 scrambled eggs (Protein-Lipid Breakfast)

Lunch: lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced fresh turkey, vinegrette (olive oil, red vinegar), 10 green olives, sliced cucumber, 1/4 chopped avocado

Dinner: Lemon Garlic baked shrimp, brown rice

Feeling good and moving in the right direction. That's what we all work and hope for.

BE POSITIVE...DO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR GOALS...YOU WILL DO IT!!!

 

 

Morning Motivation...

Sometimes I wonder if this IS what they do....

Day 122 ~ 5/21/12

You read the weight gain correctly.    23 Pounds.    I do not regret one pound.

 I was away from dieting and exercise completely for a little over a month due to my sister being sick.  I would of gladly gained 500+ pounds if she was better and still here today.  As most of you know my only sister/sibling recently passed away.  It has been and will be probably one of the hardest things I will ever experience in my life. Everyday is a struggle to come to grips with something that is so heartbreaking. 

I am not writing this sad part to make you sad.  Just giving you reason why my diet went to the wayside.  It is not an excuse, it's a fact of life.

 I have said all along that doing these diets or any diet and getting healthy deals with real life. No personal trainers, no private chef, no housekeeper, etc.  I spent the last month staying every night (except 2) by my sisters side in the hospital, while still working a full time job. I ate whatever there was that was quick and easy – this should read, cake, chips and junk.  As far as dieting goes, there was no dieting – I could barely wrap my head around the pain my sister was going through and just trying to keep her happy.

 We all experience hardships and keeping yourself healthy while going through them is put on the back burner.  I am a testament to that.  Everyone deals with stress differently.  I know for myself,  I used to not eat - now I eat.  There is no restraint or thinking about it.  I could not even tell you if I was hungry or just eating out of just something to do.  I have some catching up to do and I am going to get back where I was  (I can not afford to go out and buy bigger clothes and my small clothes are tight....I NEED BREATHING ROOM!!!!)

 When you look at the overall picture of diets, a good portion of them say losing 1-2 pounds a week is the right way to do it.  But they never seem to point out how it’s  possible to gain (in my case and maybe you too have experienced it) about 7+ pounds per week. 

 I am (almost) back on track this week.  Getting back into the groove of things is a bit tough.  I will get there, just baby steps until I am back on solid ground.  Thank you ALL for your wonderful, kindness and lovely notes regarding my sister.  They were and are appreciated!!

 Today’s menu is as follows:

 Breakfast:  2 Hard Boiled Eggs, 1 slice Whole Wheat toast, 2 apples NOTE:  Fruit has to be eaten 15 minutes before the rest of breakfast

 Lunch:  Romaine lettuce leaves, Sliced tomatoes, grilled chicken breast,  2 tablespoons yogurt (I rolled chicken in lettuce, topped with tomatoes and made a garlic,dash salt & pepper, cilantro, squeeze lemon juice mixed with yogurt and used it as a topping...YUMMY)

 Dinner:  1 can  Progresso veggie soup (no time to make homemade) added brown rice,  1/2 cup natural applesauce for dessert

I hope this last month gave you some good days of exercise and eating healthy. 

It's a ONE DAY AT A TIME kind of thing. 

Be Persistant and you will reach your goals!